Finding IT Jobs In The UK

Finding a well-remunerated and satisfying job in the UK can, at the moment, be a tricky process. Unemployment levels remain high, and standing out from the crowd in such a competitive market place can be intimidating.

There are many things that you can do to boost your chances of finding the job that you want, though. Information Technology, or IT, jobs are attractive for a number of reasons, not least that they offer creative and interesting work. In order to give yourself the best chance of finding a job of this type, there are a number of things that you can do.

Qualifications and Training

First, make sure that your qualifications and training are as up-to-date as they can possibly be. Whatever your current level of qualification, there is always something that you can do to improve it. ITIL qualifications are accepted worldwide, and completing an ITIL certificate can help you look more appealing to potential employers. Other training courses, undertaken at local colleges, can also boost your level of training and give you some useful certificates to add to your CV.

Curriculum Vitae

It also important for anyone who is looking for a job to have an up-to-date curriculum vitae, or CV, to give to potential employers. A CV is a tool which helps you to get an interview, rather than a job application in itself. It needs to be maintained so that it shows all of your latest experience and qualifications. Tailoring a CV towards a certain job also helps.

Highlight the areas of expertise or training that you have which demonstrates competency in the subjects the employer demands. If you are applying for an IT maintenance job in a school, for example, it might well be useful to clearly indicate that you have carried out work on academic databases in the past, for example. Employers like to see that a potential employee has the right skills and experience for the job. It also helps if you are honest. Making outlandish claims on a CV might well get you an interview, but it can also make you look a complete idiot when it comes to the time to start work.

Targeted Search

When looking for a job in IT, you should also make sure that you are looking in the right places. A jobs website such as TheITJobBoard.co.uk or CWJobs.co.uk is often a good place to start. More general jobs boards such as the government Universal Jobmatch website are also useful. Obviously, to use a site such as this properly, you need to use the filters effectively, otherwise you will be scanning through hundreds of irrelevant vacancies.

As well as general jobs sites, also look for local sites, such as Gumtree, as these can be an important source for part-time and freelance work, if nothing else. Trade publications are very useful, and it also helps to join some forums and message boards, and to use social media contacts. Many IT jobs are advertised by word of mouth, so maintaining good contacts in the industry is important.

Interview Technique

Finally, one important skill which is often neglected by many job seekers is the interview. Do not go into an interview without a plan. Read as much as you can about the company, and make sure you keep the important points in your mind as you go into the interview. Answer questions with responses which reflect the company’s ethos, structure and aims and you should improve your chances considerably.